Method oe handling- and utilizing  combustible gases



C. CONOVER.

u METHOD 0F HANDLING AND UTILIZING COMBUSTIBLE GASES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12. 191e.

vIl!) PATENT OFFICE.

COTIRTNEY CONOVER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. y

METHOD OF HANDLING AND UTILIZING-a COMBUSTIBLE GASES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Application led September 12, 1918. Serial No. 253,839.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CoUnTNEY CoNovEn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Handling and Utiliz' ing Combustible Gases, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide' 'fying inflammable substances which are gaseous at ordinary temperature, storing or transporting the liquid fuel so produced 1n a form of container which does not allow the rapid penetration of heat to the contained liquid and which hence will prevent rapid evaporation, converting the liquid fuel into gas with the aid of the heat of its own combustion, and burnin the gas for the production of heat or lig t, or using 1t both as a cooling agent and as a fuel in the generation of power.

To illustrate the practical operation of my invention I shall describe in detail one of the many ways in which the process .may be applied. One preferred procedure 1s as follows: Inflammable gaseous material, preferably natural gas, is subjected to conditions which will convert some of its constituents, boiling below 10 centigrade, into the liquid state. For the production of heat, whether byburning with air, or in a special torch with oxygen, ethylene and the hydrocarbons with boilmg point above 100 centigrade would be most desirable, while for the purpose of taking 'advantage of abundant raw material it might be desirableto liquefy and utilize gases (as for example certain constituents of natural gas) with boiling point below .-*150J centigrade.`

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus which may be used for carrying out the objects of my in'-A vention.y .E

The liquid product obtained 1s placed for storage or transportation in containers which will protect it from heat and hence will prevent rapid evaporation. The preferred container for this purpose is one in which the tank holding the liquid is surrounded' by other tanks, each tank except the outside one being so supported and havmg openings so situated that it is surrounded .by the cold vapor coming from itsvinterlor and is partially protected by this vapor from heat from the outside. tainer utilizing this principle is shown in the figuredforminga part of this specification and indicated as a whole by the numeral 5. I have shown this container diagrammatically as comprising a plurality of tanks 6, 7, 8 and 9. The tanks 6, 7 and 8 are inclosed within tanks 7, 8 and 9 respectively which are so positioned with respect to their respective inclosed tanks as vto provide insulating spaces 10, 11 and 12; Within the top of the tank there is provided an opening 13 which communicates the insulating space 10 with the interior of the tank 6. The insulating spaces 10 and 11 are communicated through an opening 14 provided in the bottom of the tank 7 and an opening 15 provided in the top of tank 8 serves to communicate the insulating spaces 11 and 12. To the top of the tank 9 there is connected a pipe 16 designed to carry the gases, evolved from the liquefied gas G, contained within the tank 6, to a desired and remote location for the purpose of utilizing the latent energy contained therein. A tube 17 is secured to the upper wall of each of the tanks 6, 7, 8 and 9 and projected a substantial distance within the tank 6. The upper end of the tube 17 is provided with a screw-plug 18 which when removed permits desired liqueed gas to be deposited into the tank 6.

The preferred method of converting the volatile liquid G into gas consists in withdrawing from the container a portion of the gas accumulated there (through the gradual absorption of heat from outside), dividing this gas into two streams, one of which is heated and forced back into the container where it is brought into close contact with the liquid and serves to evaporate it.' The preferred means of' heating this stream of gas is by circulating it where it will absorb .the heat evolved by the second stream of gas when this is used for the production of power, heat or light.

I have shown diagrammatically in the drawings a means for utilizing the gas, evolved by the above named method, for the generation of power. To this end I transmit through a pipe 19 a portion of the gas, accumulated within the tank 6 (through the gradual absorption of heat from the outside) to the jacket 20 of an internal combustion engine, indicated as a Whole by the numeral 2l.. ',l`o the pipe 1.7 there is connected a pipe 22 which in turn is connected to the jacket 20, the tvvo pipes 17 and 22 serving as a means for transmitting a portion of the gas from the engine jacket back into the tank 6. As a means for drawing the gases from the tank 6 into and through the engine liaeket 2() there is provided preferably a rotary pump 20 having suitable driving connection with a desired rotating element of the internal combustion engine 21 as shown at 2l". This pump serves not only as a means for drawing the gases into and out of the jacket 20 but also as a means for forcing a portion of the gases back into the tank 6 through the pipes 17 and 22. By means of a pipe 23 a portion of the gas from the jacket 20 is directed into the manifold 24 from which it is` passed into the explosion chamber of the engine and therein exploded.

The gas which is exploded Within the cylinders of the engine necessarily liberates a quantity of energy in the form of heat, which heat is utilized to Aheat the gas transmittcd to the jacket 2O through the pipe 19.

The gas thus heated is rendered not only capable ot being more readily exploded when transmitted into the cylinders through the pipe 23 connected to the manifold 24 but also serves as a means when directed back into the tank 6 to volatilize the liquefied gas G contained therein. Should it be desired to regulate or discontinue the flow of the gas from the tank 6 a suitable valve 25 may be provided for this purpose, and on the other hand Ishould it be desired to regulate or discontinue the How of gas from the jacket 20 back into the tank 6 a valve 26 similar to that indicated by the numeral 25 may be provided for this jurpose.

The process as above described may be varied in many Ways and yet Will be practicable. Thus inllammable gases other than natural gas, such as coal gas. Water gas, or producer gas may be used. The process of liquei'action may be varied so as to produce liquids having different properties. The container, instead of being as described may be one in which partial or complete dependence is placed for insulation upon a vacuum or upon solid insulating material such as cork, felt, magnesia, or others. The liquid may be gasiied in many Ways such as by heating electrically with resistance Wire inimersed in the liquid, by circulating a Warm gas through a tube passing through the container and by other Well known means and methods of volatilizing hydrocarbons and other liquids.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s:

1. A method of handling and utilizing combustible gases Which consists in liquelying inflammable materials Which are gaseousat ordinary temperature, placing the liquid in a container constructed to prevent rapid volatilization, gasifying the liquid when needed for use, ejecting the evolved rases Jfrom said container in a single stream, t ividing the stream into a plurality of flows, ignitingone flow, directing another flow around the point of ignition, heat being absorbed by the second named flow by the ignition of the first named flow directing the gases of the second named How together with the heat absorbed thereby into contact with said liquid whereby rapid evaporation of the same is facilitated. i

2. A method of handling and utilizing combustible gases which consists in li'quefying inflammable materials which are gaseous at ordinary temperatures, placing the liquid in a container constructed to prevent ra id volatilization, gasifying the liquid w en needed for use, burning a portion of the evolved gases, heating the unburned portion of the evolved gases, and utilizing the heated unburned gases to facilitate rapid volatilization of the liquid within said container.

3. A method of handling and utilizing combustible gases which consists in liquefying inflammable materials which are gaseous at ordinary temperature, placing the liquid in a container which will prevent rapid volatilization, gasifying the liquid Whenl needed for use, igniting a portion of the evolved gases and directing the heat generated by the ignition of said gases back into said container to facilitate rapid volatilization of said liquid, the heat being transmitted through the unburned portion of said evolvedl gases as a medium.

4. A method of handling and utilizing combustible gases which consists in liquefy-- ing iniiammable materials which are gaseous at ordinary temperature, placing the liquld in a container 4-Which W1ll prevent rapid volatilization, gasiying the liquid when needed for use, igniting a portlon of the evolved gases, heating the unburned portion of the evolved gases, and directing the heated unburned gases back into said container to facilitate rapide volatilization of said liquid.

5. A method of handling and utilizing combustible frases which consists in liquefying inflammable materials which are gaseous at ordinary temperature, placing the liquid in a container which Will prevent rapid of the evolved gases by the heat created' by the i ignited portion of said gases, and directing t e heated unburned gases back into said container `to facilitate rapid volatilization of said liquid.

6. A method of handling and` utilizing combustible gases which consists in liquefying inflammable materials which are gaseous at ordinary temperature, placing the liquid in a container which will prevent rapid volatilization, gasifying the liquid when needed for use, igniting a portion of the evolved gases, heating the unburned portion of the evolved gases, and directing the heated unburned gases back into direct contact with the liquid Within said container To `ficilitate rapid .volatilization of the A method of handling and utilizing combustible ases Which consists in liquefying inflamma le materials Which are gaseous at ordinary temperatures, maintaining the materials in a liqueed condition, gasifying the liquid when needed for use burning a portion of the evolved gases, heating the unburned portion of the evolved gases, and utilizing the heated unburned gases to facilitate rapid volatilization of the liquid.

8. A method of handling and utilizing combustible gases which consists in liquefying inflammable materials which are gaseous at ordinary temperatures, placing the liquid in a container constructed to prevent rapid volatilization, gasifying the liquid Whenneeded for use, burning a portion of the evolved gases, heating the unburned portion of the evolved gases by the heat created by the burned portion of said gases, and utilizing the heated unburned gases to facilitate volatilization of said liquid.

9. A method of handling and utilizing combustible gases which consists in liquefying infiammable materials which are gaseous at ordinary temperatures, maintainin the materials when liquefied normall in a l1 uefied condition, gasifying the. liquid w en needed for use, burning a portion of the evolved gases, heating the unburned vportions of the evolved gases by the heat created by the burned portion of the gases, and utilizing the heated unburned gases to facilitate volatilization of said liquid.

10. A method of handling and utilizing combustible gases which consists in liquefying inflammable materials Which are gaseous at ordinary temperatures, maintaining the materials when liqueed normally in a liquefied condition, gasifying the liquid when needed for use, directing a portion of the evolved gases into the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, burning Within the cylinder the gases directed thereinto,

utilizing the unburned portion of said evolved gases as a heat absorbent medium to cool the engine, and utilizin the heat absorbed by the unburned port1on of gases to facilitate volatilization of said liquid.

l1. A method of handling and utilizing combustible gases which consists in liquefying inflammable materials which are gaseous at ordinary temperatures, maintainmg the materials when liquefied normally in a liquefied condition, gasifying the liquid when needed for use, directing a portion of the evolved gases into the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, burning Within the 'cylinder the gases directed thereinto, utilizing the unburned ortion of said evolved gases as a heat a sorbent medium to cool the engine, and directing the heated4 unburned gases back into contact with said liquid to facilitate volatilization of said liquid.

12. A method of handling and utilizing combustible gases which consists in liquefying inflammable materials which are gaseous at ordinary temperatures, maintaining the materials When liquefied normally in a liquefied condition, gasifying the liquid when needed for use, directing a ortion of the evolved gases into the cylin er of an internal combustion engine, burningvvithin the cylinder the gases directed thereinto, utilizing the unburned portion of said evolved asesas a heat absorbent medium to cool t e engine, and transmitting the heat absorbed by the unburned gases to said liquid to facilitate volatilization of said' liquid, the heat being transmitted through the unburned portion `of said gases as a medium.

13. A method of handling and utilizing combustible gases Which consists in liquefying inflammable material boiling below 150 centigrade, maintaining the material when liquefied normally in a liquid condition bymeans of a container in which the layers of its own vapor, gasifying the liquid .when needed for use, utilizing the evolved vpoint of less than -1500 centigrade, surrounding said liquefied material by 'layers of its own gas to maintain the material in a liqueiied condition, applying heat tothe liquefied material to gasify the same When it is to be utilized, and burning the evolved gases. r

liquefied material is protected from heat by 15.A method of handling and utilizing combustible gases which consists in liquefying inammable material having a boiling polnt of less than 150 centigrade, sur- 5 rounding said liquefied material by layers of its oWn gas to maintain the material in a liqueed condition, applying heat to the liquefied material'to gasify the same when it is to be utilized, injecting the evolved gases into an internal combustion engine, and 10 igniting said gases Within the engine to transform the latent energy of said gases into power.

COURTNEY CONOVER. 

